The combination of chocolate and fruit is a classic one, and these chocolate-covered oranges are a wonderful winter treat that's also surprisingly easy to make at home.
Fruits are sweet and delicious all on their own. But one can't deny that the combination of chocolate and fruit is amazing and that a coating of rich, dark chocolate greatly enhances the flavor of fruits.
Winter is the perfect time to make chocolate covered oranges! I adore oranges - they are truly nature's dessert. Just like strawberries, oranges don't really NEED a coating of chocolate. 🍊But it does make them even better.
The ingredients you'll need
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty dessert. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Mandarin orange: Recommended in this recipe because you can peel and section it easily - much more easily than a common orange. But you could also use a small orange if you'd like.
Dark chocolate: The darker you can go and still enjoy it, the better. I typically use either Lindt Excellence 90% cacao or 85% chocolate chips, but you should obviously use what you like.
Avocado oil: Used here to make the chocolate coating shinier and also less prone to breaking as you bite into it. You can also use coconut oil.
Sweetener: This is optional. I use it because the chocolate I tend to use is super-dark. But if you use, say, chocolate with 70% cacao, you might be able to skip the sweetener.
How to make chocolate-covered oranges
It's so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
1. Your very first step is to peel the orange and divide it into segments. As mentioned above, this is the easiest to do with mandarin oranges.
2. Now, melt the chocolate in the microwave. You can also use a saucepan, but the microwave is easy and fast. Just make sure you do it in 2-3 sessions and stir after each session to avoid burning the chocolate.
3. Your next step is to stir oil and sweetener (if using) into the melted chocolate. Then dip half of each orange segment into the mixture.
4. Place the dipped orange segments on a wax paper-lined plate and briefly refrigerate them to set the chocolate.
How to store chocolate covered oranges
Store them in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Remove them from the fridge about an hour before you plan on serving them. Chocolate - and fruit - taste best at room temperature.
Variations and substitutions
Here are a few ideas for you for varying the basic recipe:
- As mentioned above, it's possible to use a small regular orange in this recipe.
- After dipping the orange segments, you could sprinkle them with toppings such as finely chopped nuts or shredded coconut.
- If you like white chocolate, you can use it in this recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Absolutely. It's a matter of personal preference, of course, but the juicy tartness of oranges is beautifully complemented by dark, rich chocolate.
Apart from oranges, I love dipping strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and bananas in chocolate.
It's best to use oranges that you can peel and section easily because you want uniform segments. So mandarin oranges work well in this recipe.
Although I often use an ordinary small orange and manage just fine. And if you can get blood oranges, they look especially pretty when coated in chocolate.
More chocolate-covered fruit that you might enjoy
These chocolate-covered strawberries are wonderful. It's also a surprisingly easy recipe to make - I usually enlist the help of my kids when making it.
And chocolate-covered blueberries are such a treat. The combination of the juicy fruit and the dark chocolate is wonderful.
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Chocolate Covered Oranges
INGREDIENTS
- 1 large mandarin orange or 1 small orange
- 1 oz dark chocolate (I typically use Lindt 90% broken into pieces, or 85% chocolate chips)
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
- ¼ teaspoon stevia glycerite (optional; equals 1 tablespoon sugar)*
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel the orange and divide it into segments. Line a large plate with wax paper.
- Place the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and melt it in the microwave, in two or three 30-second sessions, stirring after each session.
- Stir the oil and the sweetener into the melted chocolate.
- Dip half of each orange section into the melted chocolate. Swirl to allow any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl.
- Place the dipped orange segments on the prepared plate. Refrigerate them until set, about 20 minutes.
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NOTES
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living.